Source: Fox News
Summary
A recent study found that people are living longer, but spending more years in poor health, with the “morbidity gap” widening across 203 of 204 countries analyzed. The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, found that the gap was most pronounced in the United States, where people spend an average of 14 years, or 17.8% of their expected lifespan, in poor health. The researchers attributed this to chronic diseases such as low back pain, hearing loss, and depression. They suggested that future gains in population health will come from helping people live healthier, rather than just living longer.
Our Reading
The advice sounds familiar.
The concept of “morbidity gap” is not new, but the study’s findings highlight the need to focus on healthy aging, rather than just extending lifespan. The researchers’ emphasis on prevention, long-term disease management, and chronic care to reduce years lived in poor health is a familiar refrain. The idea of “healthspan” – the number of years spent in good health – is also not new, but it’s a concept that continues to gain traction. The study’s findings suggest that it’s time to shift the focus from simply adding years to life to adding life to years.
The study’s emphasis on the importance of preserving function, rather than simply reacting to disease, is also a familiar theme. The idea of routinely assessing mobility, muscle strength, balance, hearing, cognition, and overall physical resilience is not new, but it’s an approach that continues to gain attention. The study’s findings suggest that it’s time to make this approach a core component of preventive medicine.
Author: Evan Null
